Dr. Claudio Modini, head of the emergency room at the Policlinic Umberto I hospital in Rome, confirmed the suspected cause of death. The actor arrived at the hospital at 10:40 p.m. local time Wednesday and was pronounced dead at 11 p.m. after resuscitation efforts in the ambulance and hospital failed, Modini said.

Modini told the AP that an autopsy would be performed beginning 24 hours after the death, as required by law.

The U.S. Embassy in Rome said it would be available to provide a death certificate and help prepare the body for return to the United States. The Embassy said it can take four to seven days to arrange shipment outside of Italy.